Olympus E-30 vs E-P1

The Olympus E-30 and the Olympus PEN E-P1 are two enthusiast cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively,
in November 2008 and June 2009. The E-30 is a DSLR, while the E-P1 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. Both cameras are equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 12.2 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus E-30 and the
Olympus PEN E-P1? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Olympus E-30 and the Olympus E-P1. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The E-P1 can be obtained in three different colors (black, silver, white), while the E-30 is
only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Olympus E-P1 is considerably smaller (45 percent) than the Olympus E-30. Moreover, the E-P1 is substantially lighter (49 percent) than the E-30. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the E-30 nor the E-P1 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses
that both of these cameras require. Both cameras have similarly sized sensors, but DSLRs have a larger flange-to-focal plane distance than mirrorless cameras,
which imposes contraints on the optical engineering process and generally leads to bigger and heavier lenses.
You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-30) and the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-P1). Mirrorless cameras, such as the E-P1, have moreover the advantage that they can use many lenses from other systems via adapters, as they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance.

Concerning battery life, the E-30 gets 750 shots out of its BLM-1 battery,
while the E-P1 can take 300 images on a single charge of its BLS-1 power pack.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, just click on the right or left
arrow next to the camera that you would like to inspect. Alternatively, you can also use the CAM-parator to
select your camera combination among a larger number of options.

Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The E-P1 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 38 percent) than the E-30, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a Four Thirds sensor and have a format factor
(sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras
that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 12.2 megapixels.
This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the E-30 and the E-P1 have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the E-P1 is a somewhat more recent model (by 7 months) than the E-30, and its sensor
might have benefitted from technological advances during this time.

The Olympus E-30 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200.
The corresponding ISO settings for the Olympus PEN E-P1 are ISO 100 to ISO 6400 (no boost).

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

Camera Model

Sensor Class

Resolution (MP)

Horiz. Pixels

Vert. Pixels

Video Format

DXO Portrait

DXO Landscape

DXO Sports

DXO Overall

Camera Model

Olympus E-30

Four Thirds

12.2

4032

3024

none

21.3

10.4

530

55

Olympus E-30

Olympus E-P1

Four Thirds

12.2

4032

3024

720/30p

21.4

10.4

536

55

Olympus E-P1

Olympus E-P3

Four Thirds

12.2

4032

3024

1080/60i

20.8

10.1

536

51

Olympus E-P3

Olympus E-PL2

Four Thirds

12.2

4032

3024

720/30p

21.4

10.2

573

55

Olympus E-PL2

Olympus E-PL3

Four Thirds

12.2

4032

3024

1080/60i

20.9

10.3

499

52

Olympus E-PL3

Olympus E-450

Four Thirds

10.0

3648

2736

none

21.5

10.5

512

56

Olympus E-450

Olympus E-600

Four Thirds

12.2

4032

3024

none

21.5

10.3

541

55

Olympus E-600

Olympus E-620

Four Thirds

12.2

4032

3024

none

21.3

10.3

536

55

Olympus E-620

Olympus E-P2

Four Thirds

12.2

4032

3024

720/30p

21.5

10.4

505

56

Olympus E-P2

Olympus E-420

Four Thirds

10.0

3648

2736

none

21.5

10.4

527

56

Olympus E-420

Olympus E-520

Four Thirds

10.0

3648

2736

none

21.4

10.4

548

55

Olympus E-520

Olympus E-3

Four Thirds

10.0

3648

2736

none

21.6

10.5

571

56

Olympus E-3

Olympus E-410

Four Thirds

10.0

3648

2736

none

21.1

10.0

494

51

Olympus E-410

Olympus E-510

Four Thirds

10.0

3648

2736

none

21.2

10.0

442

52

Olympus E-510

Panasonic GH1

Four Thirds

12.0

4000

3000

1080/24p

21.6

11.6

772

64

Panasonic GH1

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The E-P1 indeed provides for movie recording, while the E-30 does not. The highest resolution format that the E-P1 can use is 720/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the E-30 has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight.
In contrast, the E-P1 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-P1 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

Camera Model

Viewfinder (Type or '000 dots)

Control Panel (yes/no)

LCD Size (inch)

LCD Resolution ('000 dots)

LCD Attach- ment

Touch Screen (yes/no)

Mech Shutter Speed

Shutter Flaps (1/sec)

Built-in Flash (yes/no)

Built-in Image Stab

Camera Model

Olympus E-30

optical

Y

2.7

230

swivel

n

1/8000s

5.0

Y

Y

Olympus E-30

Olympus E-P1

none

n

3.0

230

fixed

n

1/4000s

3.0

n

Y

Olympus E-P1

Olympus E-P3

optional

n

3.0

614

fixed

Y

1/4000s

3.0

Y

Y

Olympus E-P3

Olympus E-PL2

optional

n

3.0

460

fixed

n

1/4000s

3.0

Y

Y

Olympus E-PL2

Olympus E-PL3

optional

n

3.0

460

tilting

n

1/4000s

5.5

n

Y

Olympus E-PL3

Olympus E-450

optical

n

2.7

215

fixed

n

1/4000s

3.5

Y

n

Olympus E-450

Olympus E-600

optical

n

2.7

230

swivel

n

1/4000s

4.0

Y

Y

Olympus E-600

Olympus E-620

optical

n

2.7

230

swivel

n

1/4000s

4.0

Y

Y

Olympus E-620

Olympus E-P2

optional

n

3.0

230

fixed

n

1/4000s

3.0

n

Y

Olympus E-P2

Olympus E-420

optical

n

2.7

215

fixed

n

1/4000s

3.5

Y

n

Olympus E-420

Olympus E-520

optical

n

2.7

215

fixed

n

1/4000s

3.5

Y

Y

Olympus E-520

Olympus E-3

optical

Y

2.5

230

swivel

n

1/8000s

5.0

Y

Y

Olympus E-3

Olympus E-410

optical

n

2.5

215

fixed

n

1/4000s

3.0

Y

n

Olympus E-410

Olympus E-510

optical

n

2.5

215

fixed

n

1/4000s

3.0

Y

Y

Olympus E-510

Panasonic GH1

1440

n

3.0

460

swivel

n

1/4000s

3.0

Y

n

Panasonic GH1

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The E-30 has one, while the E-P1 does not.
While the built-in flash of the E-30 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The E-30 has an articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by
vloggers and photographers who are interested in snapping selfies. In contrast, the E-P1 does not have a selfie-screen.

The E-30 writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or xD Picture cards, while the E-P1 uses SDHC cards. The E-30 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the E-P1
only has one slot.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus E-30 and Olympus PEN E-P1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

Camera Model

Hotshoe Port

Internal Microphone

Internal Speaker

Microphone Port

Headphone Port

HDMI Port

USB Port

WiFi Support

NFC Support

Bluetooth Support

Camera Model

Olympus E-30

Y

none

none

-

-

none

2.0

-

-

-

Olympus E-30

Olympus E-P1

Y

stereo

none

-

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Olympus E-P1

Olympus E-P3

Y

stereo

none

-

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Olympus E-P3

Olympus E-PL2

Y

stereo

none

-

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Olympus E-PL2

Olympus E-PL3

Y

stereo

none

-

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Olympus E-PL3

Olympus E-450

Y

none

none

-

-

none

2.0

-

-

-

Olympus E-450

Olympus E-600

Y

none

none

-

-

none

2.0

-

-

-

Olympus E-600

Olympus E-620

Y

none

none

-

-

none

2.0

-

-

-

Olympus E-620

Olympus E-P2

Y

stereo

none

-

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Olympus E-P2

Olympus E-420

Y

none

none

-

-

none

2.0

-

-

-

Olympus E-420

Olympus E-520

Y

none

none

-

-

none

2.0

-

-

-

Olympus E-520

Olympus E-3

Y

none

none

-

-

none

2.0

-

-

-

Olympus E-3

Olympus E-410

Y

none

none

-

-

none

2.0

-

-

-

Olympus E-410

Olympus E-510

Y

none

none

-

-

none

2.0

-

-

-

Olympus E-510

Panasonic GH1

Y

stereo

none

Y

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Panasonic GH1

Both the E-30 and the E-P1 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used
on eBay. The E-P1 was replaced by the Olympus E-P2, while the E-30 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Olympus website.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is the Olympus E-30 better than the Olympus E-P1 or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Arguments in favor of the Olympus E-30:

Easier framing: Has an optical viewfinder for image composition and settings control.

Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.

More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.

More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.

More compact: Is smaller (121x70mm vs 142x108mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.

Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 346g or 49 percent) and is thus easier to take along.

More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.

More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (38 percent cheaper at launch).

More modern: Was introduced somewhat (7 months) more recently.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the E-30 emerges as the winner of the contest (10 : 8 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges
from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera
is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

E-30 10:08 E-P1

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-30 and the Olympus E-P1 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest
Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the E-30 or the E-P1 perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge,
reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.